True aneurysms in the upper extremity are unusual, particularly in the absence of trauma(3,9). We report the treatment of digital ischemia caused by thrombosis of an aneurysmal dorsal interosseous artery. Our report is noteworthy in that the patient also had bilateral congenital absence of the radial artery, a rare and embryologically primitive variation of human anatomy(8).

Orthopaedic surgeons in many major arthroplasty centres advocate the use of a prolonged surgical hand-scrub prior to total joint replacement. In this study we evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of a 5 compared with a 10 min scrub before both long (>90 min) and short (< 90 min) operations for total hip arthroplasty. Surgical hand disinfection was performed on one occasion for 5 min and on a second for 10 mm by 41 surgeons and theatre nurses using 4% chlorhexidine gluconate as a detergent formulation (‘Hibiscrub’, ICI Pharmaceuticals). None of the subjects had previously scrubbed on the day of each test. Bacterial colony counts on the fingers were measured using the method described by Rotter (vide infra) before scrubbing, immediately after scrubbing, and at the end of each operation. Our results showed that for arthroplasty procedures lasting less than 90 min (35 operations) a 5 min hand-scrub was equally as effective as one of 10 min. However, following longer procedures (36 operations) colony counts were significantly higher on subjects who had scrubbed for 10 min than on those who only scrubbed for 5 (P < 0·05, Mann-Whitney U-Test). This study suggests that the practice of a prolonged scrub before total joint replacement does not have a scientific basis and that such a policy should be discontinued where it is still practised.

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 723, Issue 1 p. 418-419 Functional Assessment of the Efficacy of Oxygen Free Radical Scavengers in the "No-Reflow" Phenomenon in Skeletal Muscle D. A. O'FARRELL, D. A. O'FARRELL Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this authorL-E. CHEN, L-E. CHEN Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this authorA. V. SEABER, A. V. SEABER Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this authorJ. R. URBANIAK, J. R. URBANIAK Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this author D. A. O'FARRELL, D. A. O'FARRELL Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this authorL-E. CHEN, L-E. CHEN Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this authorA. V. SEABER, A. V. SEABER Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this authorJ. R. URBANIAK, J. R. URBANIAK Orthopedic Research Laboratory Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710Search for more papers by this author First published: June 1994 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb36764.xCitations: 4AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. References 1 Harris, K., P. Walker, D. Mickle, et al. 1985. Am. J. Physiol. 19: H213. 2 Mccutchan, H. J., J. R. Schwappach, E. G. Enquist, et al. 1990. Am. J. Physiol. 258(27): H1415–H1419. 3 Mccord, J. M. 1985. New Engl. J. Med. 312(3): 159–163. Citing Literature Volume723, Issue1Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Aspects of Reperfusion InjuryJune 1994Pages 418-419 ReferencesRelatedInformation